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This study reports the basic nutritional requirement of subtropical Modiolus capax broodstock conditioned under nine diet—temperature treatments. The value of carbohydrate-rich diets was not only assessed to ensure maturation outside of the main breeding season but also to understand the interaction between diet—temperature over conditioning periods larger than the 30 days usually recommended for tropical bivalves. The experimental design included a natural diet prepared with a blend of the microalgae Tisochrysis lutea and Chaetoceros calcitrans (Micro100) and two carbohydrate-enriched diets composed of Micro100 wheat flour (MicroW) at 7% total dry weight of body tissues and Micro100 cornstarch (MicroC) at 7% total dry weight of body tissues. Maximum gonad development occurred in mussels fed MicroC at higher temperatures (26°C) where the highest frequency of partial spawning accompanied the highest lipid content in gonad and lower carbohydrate content in somatic tissues. This result reflects an early maturation compared with brood stock fed the natural Micro100 diet at 24°C. Lower temperatures (22°C) delayed maturation in all treatments and favored accumulation of carbohydrate reserves in somatic tissues with the MicroC diet. Natural diets supplemented with carbohydrate-rich sources by cereal flours are reliable alternatives to fuel and sustain gametogenesis in M. capax broodstock at high temperatures and to increase carbohydrate reserves in somatic tissues at low temperatures.

Purpose: To evaluate the precision of the IcareONE rebound tonometer, which was developed for self-measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) and to compare IcareONE measurement with Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT). Methods: Twenty-four healthy eyes and 81 glaucomatous eyes were enrolled. IOP measurements (three times per session) with IcareONE were made in a random order by an ophthalmologist (Icare(O)) and by the subject (Icare(S)). Intraclass correlation coefficients (CCs), kappa values and mean values of IOP were compared among the two types of Icare recordings and GAT. Bland–Altman analysis was used to assess agreement between methods. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify the subject factors that influenced the discordant measurements between IcareONE and GAT. Results: The mean value of Icare(O) and Icare(S) measurements was 13.5 ± 5.2 and 13.5 ± 5.4 mmHg, respectively, neither of which was significantly different from GAT (13.8 ± 4.4). The intrarater CC of Icare(O) and Icare(S) was 0.968 and 0.885, respectively. The intermethod CC and weighted kappa between Icare(O) and Icare(S) were 0.907 and 0.684, respectively. All pairwise correlations between the two types of IOP measurement showed coefficients of determination >0.8. Bland–Altman analysis did not show any proportional biases. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the differences between GAT and Icare(O) or Icare(S) were positively correlated with central corneal thickness (CCT) and negatively correlated with age. Conclusions: Intraocular pressure measurements with IcareONE by a physician and by the subject showed excellent agreement with GAT measurements; IcareONE measurements between a physician and the subject had high intrarater reliability, and good agreement thicker CCT led IcareONE measurement to overestimate IOP, while higher age caused it to underestimate IOP compared with GAT.

Objetivo. Determinar la respuesta antioxidante [actividad de superóxido dismutasa (SOD) y catalasa (CAT)] así como la cuenta total de hemocitos (CTH) y el contenido de proteínas (CP) en camarones (Litopenaeus vannamei) expuestos a diferentes dosis y cepas de la levadura Debaryomyces hansenii (DH5, DH6, LL1), y un inmunoestimulante comercial (LAM). Materiales y métodos. Las levaduras fueron cultivadas y suministradas diariamente en concentraciones diferentes (104 – 106 UFC/mL) directamente a los tanques de cultivo de los camarones (8 ± 0.2 g) mientras que LAM fue aplicado una vez a la semana (0.5 mg/L). Los organismos fueron mantenidos bajo condiciones de laboratorio (28°C, 35%, 80% de recambio diario de agua, dieta comercial para camarón ad libitum). Los tratamientos fueron distribuidos por duplicado y los resultados evaluados a los 15 días con un análisis de varianza y una prueba de Tukey. Resultados. Se registró un CTH significativo (p

This work presents the results from a study of the protein composition of outer membrane vesicles from VA-MENGOC-BC® (Finlay Institute, Cuba), an available vaccine against serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis. Proteins were identified by means of SCAPE, a 2DE-free method for proteome studies. More than one hundred proteins were detected by tandem liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of fractions enriched in peptides devoid of histidine or arginine residues, providing a detailed description of the vaccine. A bioinformatic analysis of the identified components resulted in the identification of 31 outer membrane proteins and three conserved hypothetical proteins, allowing the cloning, expression, purification and immunological study of two of them (NMB0088 and NMB1796) as new antigens.

Meningococcal B strains accounts for some 72% and 28% of meningococcal diseases in infants and toddlers in Europe and the USA, respectively. Nevertheless, meningococcal diseases are rare in Cuba owing to the wide spread program on antimeningococcal vaccination in the country. Finlay Institute is one of the pioneering organizations in Neisseria Vaccinology mainly by its contribution to N. meningitidis serogroup B outer membrane-based bivalent vaccine, VA-MENGOC-BC™. This vaccine was given intramuscularly in more than 60 million doses corresponding 10.7 millions of them to Cuban young adults, children, and infants. However, most dangerous or commensally Neisseria strains enter and establish in the mucosa, where the secretory (S) IgA is the main specific guardian and is mainly induced by mucosal routes. However, few mucosal vaccines exist principally due to the absent of mucosal adjuvants. We develop a Finlay Adjuvant (AF) platform based in outer membrane vesicles (Proteoliposome, PL) and its derivate Cochleate (Co). AFPL1 derived from serogroup B N. meningitidis is a potent Th1/CTL driving parenteral adjuvant. AFCo1 is a potent mucosal adjuvant. Therefore, we sought to go deeper in the possible mucosal cross recognition between N. meningitidis serogroups and Neisseria species and explore a concurrent mucosal and parenteral immunization strategy (SinTimVaS) in order to develop suitable mucosal vaccines. Experiments were conducted in Balb/c or C57Bl6 mice with mucosal and systemic immunization using AFCo1 and AFPL1. Human sera and saliva were also analyzed for cross cognition. Mucosal cross recognition at SIgA level in human saliva between N. meningitidis serogroups B, A, C, Y, and W135 were observed. This SIgA cross recognition response was also observed between pathogenic (N. meningitidis serogroup B, N. gonorrhoeae) and non-pathogenic strains (N. flava, N. lactamica). The possible influence of meningococcal vaccination against Gonorrhea was also explored. A proprietary Single Time Vaccination Strategy combining simultaneous mucosal and parenteral doses was developed. N. meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae show significant cross immune response, and mucosal immunization with AFCo1 to obtain immunity against both strains may be a useful strategy to combat both infections in humans. Single Time Vaccination Strategy could be important to increased human vaccination coverage and herd immunity protecting both systemic and mucosal environments.

Objetivo. Determinar la respuesta antioxidante [actividad de superóxido dismutasa (SOD) y catalasa (CAT)] así como la cuenta total de hemocitos (CTH) y el contenido de proteínas (CP) en camarones (Litopenaeus vannamei) expuestos a diferentes dosis y cepas de la levadura Debaryomyces hansenii (DH5, DH6, LL1), y un inmunoestimulante comercial (LAM). Materiales y métodos. Las levaduras fueron cultivadas y suministradas diariamente en concentraciones diferentes (104 - 106 UFC/mL) directamente a los tanques de cultivo de los camarones (8 ± 0.2 g) mientras que LAM fue aplicado una vez a la semana (0.5 mg/L). Los organismos fueron mantenidos bajo condiciones de laboratorio (28°C, 35%, 80% de recambio diario de agua, dieta comercial para camarón ad libitum). Los tratamientos fueron distribuidos por duplicado y los resultados evaluados a los 15 días con un análisis de varianza y una prueba de Tukey. Resultados. Se registró un CTH significativo (p

RESUMENObjetivo. Determinar la respuesta antioxidante [actividad de superóxido dismutasa (SOD) y catalasa (CAT)] así como la cuenta total de hemocitos (CTH) y el contenido de proteínas (CP) en camarones (Litopenaeus vannamei) expuestos a diferentes dosis y cepas de la levadura Debaryomyces hansenii (DH5, DH6, LL1), y un inmunoestimulante comercial (LAM). Materiales y métodos. Las levaduras fueron cultivadas y suministradas diariamente en concentraciones diferentes (104 – 106 UFC/mL) directamente a los tanques de cultivo de los camarones (8 ± 0.2 g) mientras que LAM fue aplicado una vez a la semana (0.5 mg/L). Los organismos fueron mantenidos bajo condiciones de laboratorio (28°C, 35%, 80% de recambio diario de agua, dieta comercial para camarón ad libitum). Los tratamientos fueron distribuidos por duplicado y los resultados evaluados a los 15 días con un análisis de varianza y una prueba de Tukey. Resultados. Se registró un CTH significativo (p

We have recently isolated and heterologously expressed BcPeh28A, an endopolygalacturonase from the phytopathogenic Gram-negative bacterium Burkholderia cepacia. Endopolygalacturonases belong to glycoside hydrolase family 28 and are responsible for the hydrolysis of the non-esterified regions of pectins. The mode of action of BcPeh28A on different substrates has been investigated and its enzymatic mechanism elucidated. The hydrolysis of polygalacturonate indicates that BcPeh28A is a non-processive enzyme that releases oligomers with chain lengths ranging from two to eight. By inspection of product progression curves, a kinetic model has been generated and extensively tested. It has been used to derive the kinetic parameters that describe the time course of the formation of six predominant products. Moreover, an investigation of the enzymatic activity on shorter substrates that differ in their overall length and methylation patterns sheds light on the architecture of the BcPeh28A active site. Specifically the tolerance of individual sites towards methylated saccharide units was rationalized on the basis of the hydrolysis of hexagalacturonides with different methylation patterns.

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Purpose. To evaluate the visual outcome of patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to pathologic myopia treated with verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT-V) and to verify the predictive role of visual and angiographic parameters. Methods. This is a retrospective, interventional, consecutive case series study of subjects with subfoveal CNV secondary to pathologic myopia. All patients received PDT-V according to VIP guidelines. A complete ophthalmologic evaluation was performed on all patients and included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus examination, and fluorescein angiography (FA, IMAGEnet System, Topcon Corp., Japan). CNV size (mm2) was directly measured on the early phase of the angiogram using the software included with the IMAGEnet package. All checks were scheduled at 3-month intervals for a period of 1 year. A review of medical and angiographic records was performed and assessed throughout a 12-month follow-up period. Results. A total of 62 patients (62 eyes) were examined. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) moderately decreased without reaching a statistically noticeable level throughout the followup; reduction in lesion size reached a significant level at the second checkup. A significant correlation between higher baseline BCVA and better final visual outcome was detected. Conclusions. Standardized PDT-V minimizes central vision deterioration in patients with CNV secondary to pathologic myopia. Better BCVA at presentation represents a good predictive sign. © Wichtig Editore, 2008.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the 12-month visual outcome of photodynamic therapy with verteporfin (PDT-V) for patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration and to verify the predictive role of visual and angiographic factors. METHODS: This retrospective, interventional, consecutive case series study included subjects with different forms of subfoveal CNV. All patients received PDT-V according to Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration With Photodynamic Therapy/Visudyne in Photodynamic Therapy guidelines. A review of medical and angiographic records was performed. RESULTS: Two hundred sixteen patients were divided into 4 study groups: group I, 60 eyes with classic CNV; group II, 56 eyes with predominantly classic CNV; group III, 42 eyes with minimally classic CNV; and group IV, 58 eyes with occult CNV. In groups I and II, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was moderately decreased, without reaching a statistically noticeable level during the entire follow-up; lesion size reduction only reached significance in group I. Groups III and IV showed evident worsening of BCVA (P < 0.05), despite concomitant reduction in CNV size (statistically remarkable only for occult CNV). All study groups exhibited a significant correlation between higher baseline BCVA and better final visual outcome. In groups II and IV, smaller baseline CNV sizes also favorably influenced final BCVA. CONCLUSIONS: Standardized PDT-V minimizes deterioration of central vision only in patients with classic and predominantly classic CNV. Irrespective of the CNV type, better BCVA at presentation represents a good predictive sign. In predominantly classic and occult lesions, minor initial CNV dimension is also a positive prognostic element. © The Ophthalmic Communications Society, Inc. PURPOSE: To evaluate the 12-month visual outcome of photodynamic therapy with verteporfin (PDT-V) for patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration and to verify the predictive role of visual and angiographic factors. METHODS: This retrospective, interventional, consecutive case series study included subjects with different forms of subfoveal CNV. All patients received PDT-V according to Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration With Photodynamic Therapy/Visudyne in Photodynamic Therapy guidelines. A review of medical and angiographic records was performed. RESULTS: Two hundred sixteen patients were divided into 4 study groups: group I, 60 eyes with classic CNV; group II, 56 eyes with predominantly classic CNV; group III, 42 eyes with minimally classic CNV; and group IV, 58 eyes with occult CNV. In groups I and II, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was moderately decreased, without reaching a statistically noticeable level during the entire follow-up; lesion size reduction only reached significance in group I. Groups III and IV showed evident worsening of BCVA (P < 0.05), despite concomitant reduction in CNV size (statistically remarkable only for occult CNV). All study groups exhibited a significant correlation between higher baseline BCVA and better final visual outcome. In groups II and IV, smaller baseline CNV sizes also favorably influenced final BCVA. CONCLUSIONS: Standardized PDT-V minimizes deterioration of central vision only in patients with classic and predominantly classic CNV. Irrespective of the CNV type, better BCVA at presentation represents a good predictive sign. In predominantly classic and occult lesions, minor initial CNV dimension is also a positive prognostic element. © The Ophthalmic Communications Society, Inc.

To evaluate the circadian effects on intraocular pressure (IOP) and ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) of 0.5% timolol or 0.005% latanoprost in Caucasian patients affected by normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). In this crossover trial, 30 consecutive NTG subjects underwent three 24-hour assessments of IOP, blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and OPP [calculated according to the formula OPP = (1/3 systolic BP + 2/3 diastolic BP) x 2/3 – IOP]: at baseline, and after 1-month treatment with timolol or latanoprost. These parameters were recorded at 4 a.m., 8 a.m., noon, 4 p.m., 8 p.m., and midnight. Both timolol and latanoprost reduced IOP (p

Circular dichroism (CD) is presented as a reliable and sensitive method of determining the diadic frequency composition of alginate (F(GG), F(MM) and F(GM+MG)). The availability of samples, very largely or even completely conforming to the limiting structures of polymannuronate (MM)(n), polyguluronate (GG)(n) and polyalternating MG (MG)(n), respectively, allowed the limiting CD spectra for each alginate diad to be obtained. These showed very different CD behaviour, thus pointing out the crucial importance of the neighbouring residue in chiroptical properties. Using an iterative best-fit procedure, the diadic composition of commercial alginates could be obtained from their respective CD spectra by means of a linear combination of the spectra of the three limiting diads. The results were found in excellent agreement with the composition parameters obtained by 1H NMR spectroscopy.

PURPOSE: To provide a systematic classification of fundus autofluorescence (FAF) patterns in patients affected by Best vitelliform macular dystrophy. DESIGN: Cross-sectional prospective study. METHODS: Patients affected by Best vitelliform macular dystrophy at different stages of the disease were prospectively enrolled from January 2012 to July 2013. Eighty eyes of 40 patients were included in the study. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination, including genetic characterization, short-wavelength FAF, and near-infrared FAF. Main outcome measures were the recognition of the FAF patterns in the different stages and the identification of a relationship between FAF patterns and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). RESULTS: Six FAF patterns for both short-wavelength and near-infrared FAF were identified, including normal, hyper-autofluorescent, hypo-autofluorescent, patchy, multifocal, and spoke-like patterns. Applying Gass's classification for defining consecutive stages of Best vitelliform macular dystrophy (namely vitelliform, pseudohypopyon, vitelliruptive, atrophic, and cicatricial) identified no pattern as stage-specific. Patchy patterns had the highest prevalence. A statistically significant difference (Kruskat-Wallis ANOVA) was. found among hyperautofluorescent, patchy, and hypo-autofluorescent patterns, both in short-wavelength (P =. 001) and near-infrared FAF (P = .001). Hyper-autofluorescent and hypo-autofluorescent patterns were associated with better and worse BCVA, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Six main patterns on both short-wavelength and near-infrared FAF were identified in Best vitelliform macular dystrophy. No FAF pattern can be considered stage-specific. Although a difference in the BCVA among the FAF patterns was registered, only a longitudinal study designed to evaluate the clinical and FAF modifications over the follow-up will help clarify the prognostic implications of each FAF pattern. (C) 2014 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The synthesis of some glycosylamines (1-amino-1-deoxy D-glucose, 1-amino-1-deoxy-D-galactose and 1-amino-1-deoxylactose) was carried out by treatment of the corresponding reducing sugars with ammonium hydrogencarbonate in concentrated ammonia. The reaction mixture was first analyzed by capillary electrophoresis with indirect absorbance detection and high performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection. Beside glycosylcarbamate, a known reaction by-product, fructose and lactulose were detected during the synthesis of 1-amino-1-deoxyglucose and 1-amino-1-deoxylactose, respectively. Quantification of glycosylamines was carried out by micellar electrokinetic chromatography with UV detection of their 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc) derivatives; lactulosylamine was thus detected in the synthesis mixture of 1-amino-1-deoxylactose. The Fmocglycosylamines were easily purified from the other components of the crude synthesis mixtures.

Il contributo propone uno studio sull'attività musicale dei Gesuiti a Palermo tra Cinquecento e prima metà del Seicento, attraverso l'analisi delle fonti d'archivio e di altre tipologie documentarie. In particolare ci si sofferma sull'atto di costituzione della cappella musicale (avvenuto tramite legato testamentario nella prima metà del XVII secolo), sul contributo a specifiche devozioni (soprattutto Quarantore e Santa Rosalia) e sui rapporti di collaborazione con diverse figure di musicisti e compositori.

Cycloheximide (CHX) is one of the most interesting protein synthesis inhibitors. For this reason, fluorescent derivatives of CHX could find useful applications in cell biology. We report the successful synthesis of a set of novel fluorescent derivatives of CHX. The effect of different functional groups on the biological activity of CHX was studied upon their modification through suitable strategies, i.e., acetylation of the hydroxyl group and reductive amination of the ketone group. The first route induced a complete loss of biological activity, while the second approach allowed a retained inhibition of protein synthesis, as demonstrated by in vitro translation assays. Various fluorescent dyes for reductive amination were tested (i.e., ANTS, APTS, and Rhodamine-123), and the success of the syntheses was demonstrated by diverse analytical techniques. Cycloheximide labeling with fluorescent dyes is a promising approach for developing fluorescence reporters for various applications, both in vitro (fluorescence spectroscopy) and in vivo (live imaging).

Malignant transformation of epithelial cells is frequently associated with the alteration of glycosylation pathways. Tn is a common tumor-associated carbohydrate antigen present in 90% of human carcinomas and its expression correlates with metastatic potential and poor prognosis. Despite its relevance, the functional role of Tn in tumor biology has not been firmly established probably for the lack of appropriate experimental tools. Our aims were to produce highly reactive monoclonal antibodies against Tn making use of synthetically produced Tn and to test their usefulness for in vivo imaging as well as to define their potential functional activity in tumor cell spread. We immunized mice with Tn clustered on cationized BSA and screened the positive hybridomas with Tn-biotinylated alginate. Enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay and immunofluorescence assays revealed that the most reactive anti-Tn IgM mAb (2154F12A4) selectively recognized Tn on the MCF7 breast cancer cell line since its binding to the cell membrane was completely abolished by preincubation with purified Tn. Importantly, QDot 800-conjugated mAb injected in MCF7-tumor bearing mice specifically bound to primary tumor lesions as well as to metastases in lymph nodes. In addition, this mAb was able to inhibit cancer cell adhesion to lymphatic endothelium suggesting a novel involvement of Tn in the lymphatic dissemination of cancer cells and hypothesizing future applications in inhibiting lymphatic metastases.

N-linked or O-linked glycans derived from glycoprotein processing carry, an N-acetylglucosamine or an N-acetylgalactosamine respectively, at their reducing termini. The presence of the N-acetylamino group on C-2 of reducing sugar residues has been reported to hamper the derivatization reaction with a chromophore at the anomeric centre. In this paper N-acetyllactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine and several other neutral monosaccharides are coupled to three different dyes (4-aminobenzonitrile, 2-aminopyridine, 2-aminobenzoic acid (2-AA)) by reductive amination and analysed by CE with UV detection. The 2-AA derivatives showed the lowest concentration detection limits, varying approximately in the 2-3 muM range for the saccharides tested including the N-acetamido ones. The possibility to separate and detect with the same sensitivity ten 2-AA-labelled monosaccharides mainly found in mammalian or plant glycoproteins in a single CE run is highlighted. The analysis has been carried out in less than 25 min using the borate-complexation method in CZE mode. The influence of the strength of the acid used as catalyst in the chemical modification of the sugars with 2-AA is also shortly addressed.

We report crystal structures of ternary complexes of maltodextrin phosphorylase with natural oligosaccharide and phosphate mimicking anions: nitrate, sulphate and vanadate. Electron density maps obtained from crystals grown in presence of Al(NO3)3 show a nitrate ion instead of the expected AlF4- in the catalytic site. The trigonal NO3- is coplanar with the Arg569 guanidinium group and mimics three of the four oxygen atoms of phosphate. The ternary complex with sulphate shows a partial occupancy of the anionic site. The low affinity of the sulphate ion, observed when the alpha-glucosyl substrate is present in the catalytic channel, is ascribed to restricted space for the anion. Even lower occupancy is observed for the larger vanadate anion. The Malp/G5/VO43- structure shows the partial occupancy of the oligosaccharide and the dislocation of the 380's loop. This has been attributed to the formation of oligosaccharide vanadate derivatives (confirmed by capillary electrophoresis) that reduces their effective concentration. The difficulty to trap a ternary complex mimicking the ground state has been correlated to the apparent lower affinity that natural substrates show regarding the intermediates of the enzymatic reaction.

Aim To investigate whether dorzolamide modifies peripapillary retinal haemodynamics in juvenile primary open-angle glaucoma (JPOAG) patients treated with timolol. Methods In 40 JPOAG subjects, before and after dorzolamide coadministration with timolol, the following examinations were achieved: intraocular pressure (IOP), blood pressure (BP), ocular perfusion pressure (OPP), heart rate (HR), visual field and retinal flowmetry. Results Adjunctive therapy with dorzolamide induced the following modifications: IOP reduction [1.75 mmHg, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23, 2.26; P

To investigate retinal blood flow by Heidelberg retina flowmeter in patients with active Graves' ophthalmopathy.Thirty patients with active Graves' ophthalmopathy in euthyroid state and thirty normal controls were enrolled in this study. All subjects underwent heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure detection, complete ophthalmological examination, Hertel's exophthalmometry, and retinal blood flow analysis by Heidelberg retina flowmeter. Patients additionally underwent automated threshold perimetry and extraocular muscle thickness measurement by A-scan ecography.A significant statistical difference was found in exophthalmometry (P0.001), intraocular pressure (P0.001) and retinal blood flow (P0.05) between patients and controls. In patients, muscle enlargement was significantly correlated with retinal blood flow (r=0.49, P=0.005) and proptosis (r=0.37, P=0.04). A significant positive correlation (r=0.52, P=0.002) was also found between intraocular pressure and proptosis.Active Graves' ophthalmopathy patients present an increased retinal blood flow.

In pseudophakic eyes, isolated total aniridia after nonperforating blunt trauma, without any apparent dehiscence or extension of the cataract incision, has been rarely reported in the literature. 1-5 Here we describe a case of posttraumatic massive hyphema followed by complete aniridia in a patient who had undergone cataract surgery 18 months before. A comprehensive diagnostic assessment, including ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM; ie, 50-MHz single-element mechanical sector scanner) was performed within few days of hyphema reabsorption. To our knowledge, UBM findings of this condition have not been documented previously.

In this work, a methodological approach is reported, aimed at assessing the electrochemical response of some model gluco-oligosaccharides (dextrans). Such strategy is based on the complementary use of both anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC–PAD) and capillary zone electrophoresis coupled with UV detection (CZE–UV). Unlike HPAEC–PAD, CZE–UV required derivatization with a chromophoric dye (i.e., 8-aminonaphtalene-1,3,6-trisulphonic acid, ANTS) to enhance UV response and separation selectivity. From the comparison between chromophore response and PAD signal, the reliability of HPAEC–PAD for quantitative evaluation of dextran mixtures containing mainly oligomers with polymerization degree (DP) up to 18 could be proved, due to the fairly constant molar response. For higher DPs (up to 41), a maximum in the trend of the molar responses was observed followed by a steep decrease for DPs higher than about 30–35; indeed, an underestimation of weight-average molecular weight of dextran mixtures containing such oligomers was noticed.

The increasing interest for carbohydrates as holder of essential bioinformations has boosted their full characterization through analytical techniques. The intent of this review is to summarize the recent trends regarding on-line and off-line CE-MS coupling for carbohydrate analysis. A statistical survey on the articles that use derivatizing agents as well as on the analyzer and type of instrument coupling (i.e. on- or off-line) is depicted. From a general overview it can be concluded that, whereas derivatization might be useful for the detection of neutral carbohydrates improving separation selectivity with volatile buffers and increasing sensitivity of the MS detection, relatively few works with derivatized carbohydrates were found; this was noticed in particular for glycosides and saccharides carrying ionizable groups, which are normally analyzed without any chemical modification. The most applied coupling is the on-line sheath-liquid interface; for on-line applications, ESI is the sole source used, whilst the most common analyzer is the IT. MS(n) is often exploited, as fragmentation increases the achieved structural information. CE-MS turned out to be mainly used for the analysis of carbohydrates in drug development (i.e. study of oligosaccharides from pathogens, carbohydrate-based drugs and drug metabolites), in nutrition and for characterization of glycans from glycoproteins. The reader will find elucidating tables regarding these recent CE-MS applications, including the main information on the analysis conditions. Comments are meant to help the immediate focus on the usefulness of the analytical technique and predict the difficulties found during analysis and, in case, their overcoming.

Rapid and reliable methods for the analysis of O- and C-allyl galactopyranosides and glucopyranosides are presented, based on capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC). In MEKC, the formation of chromophoric and charged complexes between the saccharides and borate as well as the hydrophobic interactions with micelles jointly contributed to the selective separation and sensitive detection of all the investigated anomeric couples. Some non-purified synthesis mixtures of C-allyl glycosides were successfully characterised without pre-treatment. MEKC buffer conditions for which glycosides separation was successfully achieved were then exported and applied to reverse-phase liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), for the quantitative isolation of each allyl glycoside anomer. Identification of the obtained anomeric products was performed by electrospray mass spectrometry and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. Glycoside-solvent interactions driving the selective anomeric separation were shortly addressed and discussed on the basis of sugar derivatives structural differences.

To the Editors: Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare lung disease characterised by lipoproteinaceous material accumulation in the alveoli. In the most frequent form of the disease (acquired PAP), a neutralising auto-antibody against granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) causes defects in the functioning of alveolar macrophages, including impairment of the catabolism of surfactant lipids and proteins 1. The clinical manifestations of PAP are progressive dyspnoea, cough or fatigue. Available reports have never disclosed any ocular involvement. Herein, we describe, in a patient with acquired PAP, a retinal …

Highly reliable and accurate analytical methods are needed for the determination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents in complex matrices of clinical interest. We demonstrate the reliability of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) coupled with electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) for the analysis of MultiHance (gadobenate dimeglumine), a gadolinium-based MRI agent. A sheath liquid interface connected the CE system with an electrospray mass spectrometer equipped with an ion-trap analyzer. CZE with ultraviolet (CZE-UV) and with mass detection (CZE-MS) were compared by analyzing gadobenate dimeglumine and the free ligand diluted in water and in biological fluids (i.e., human serum and urine). The optimization of some relevant CZE-MS parameters was accomplished, like CE buffer composition, sheath liquid composition and flow, and type and length of the separation capillary. CZE-UV was highly influenced by the biological sample components, which hindered a reliable quantification of both gadobenate and free ligand in serum and urine. In CZE-MS, on the other hand, the electrophoretic runs turned out to be independent of the clinical matrices, due to the informative potential and to the selectivity of MS detection.

A 25-year-old white, HIV-positive, immuno-competent man was referred to us because of a progressive blurred vision in his right eye. Clinical characteristics were suggestive for an unilateral fungal endophthalmitis, and thereby fluconazole firstly, followed by conventional amphotericin B were intravenously administered, without any significant improvement. Thus, a pars plana vitrectomy was performed. Aspergillus versicolor was isolated from the cultures of the vitreous sample and intravenous liposomal amphotericin B was administered. An increase of visual acuity together with a reduction of vitreous inflammation occurred. This case of ours represents the first report describing an endogenous endophthalmitis induced by Aspergillus versicolor.

Besides generating renal damage, hypertension plays an important role in the progression of diabetic nephropathy. The fructose-fed rat is a well-established model both of high blood pressure and renal impairment, which is similar to diabetic nephropathy. To clarify the relationship between hypertension, glucose metabolism, and kidney remodeling, we investigated the renal level of Glut 1 and Glut 5, their relation to fibrosis and the effects of an antihypertensive drug on renal damage. Twenty-four male WK rats were divided into three groups: 8 animals received a fructose-enriched diet, 8 a control diet, and 8 animals a high-fructose diet plus amlodipine (5 mg/Kg). After six weeks of treatment, we observed a significant increase in Glut 5, fibronectin, and sorbitol in fructose-fed rats compared with control and amlodipine-treated animals; there was a positive correlation between Glut 5 and fibronectin levels (r = 0.63). Glut 1 levels were similar in all three groups, whereas collagen IV was higher in fructose-fed rats; amlodipine prevented the increase of collagen IV and sorbitol. Collagen I was statistically higher in the fructose group than in the other two groups. Therefore, prolonged fructose feeding results in renal fibrosis via polyol pathway overactivity that can be prevented by means of an antihypertensive drug.